Low-dose exposure of intestinal epithelial cells to formaldehyde results in MAP kinase activation and molecular alteration of the focal adhesion protein paxillin

Peter Feick, Stephan R.L. Haas, Manfred V. Singer, Ulrich Böcker

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We investigated the potential pathophysiological role of non-lethal formaldehyde concentrations on human intestinal epithelial HT-29 cells. Expression levels of actin, tubulin and detectable cytokeratin isoforms 5, 13, 18, 19 and 20 were not affected after 24 h of exposure to 1 mM formaldehyde. By contrast, cellular organization of cytoskeletal constituents was already changed after 60 min. Within 15 min, formaldehyde induced profound tyrosine phosphorylation of the focal adhesion protein paxillin and of proteins at about 120-130 kDa. Concomitantly, phosphorylation of ERK-1/2 and p38 MAP kinase occurred. Paxillin was not only tyrosine phosphorylated but underwent a sustained molecular weight shift representing serine/threonine phosphorylation that was independent of MAP kinase activity and EGF-R-mediated signalling. Our data show that exposure of intestinal epithelial cells to low-dose formaldehyde is followed by rapid and profound signalling events. The data suggest a modifier role of environmental or endogenous formaldehyde for epithelial cell functions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)60-72
Number of pages13
JournalToxicology
Volume219
Issue number1-3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Feb 2006

Keywords

  • Formaldehyde
  • Intestinal epithelial cell
  • MAP kinase
  • Paxillin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Toxicology

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